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{{Infobox Country |
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| native_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">''Република Србија / Republika Srbija''</span> |
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| conventional_long_name = Republic of Serbia| common_name = Serbia |
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| image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg |
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| image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg |
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| image_map = Europe location SRB.png |
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| map_caption = {{map caption |region=Europe |legend=European location legend en.svg}} |
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|national_motto = {{lang|sr|Само слога Србина спасава}}<br/>{{lang|sr|'']''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(])<br/>"Only Unity Saves the Serbs"</small> |
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| national_anthem = <span style="line-height:1.25em;">'']''<small><br/>''God of Justice''</small></span> |
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| official_languages = ''']''' |
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| regional_languages = ], ], ], ], <br>] {{smallsup|1}} ] {{smallsup|2}} |
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| capital = ] |
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| latd=44 |latm=48 |latNS=N |longd=20 |longm=28 |longEW=E |
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| largest_city = capital |
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| government_type = ] |
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| leader_title1 = ] |
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| leader_title2 = ] |
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| leader_name1 = ] |
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| leader_name2 = ] |
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| area_rank = 113th |
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| area_magnitude = 1 E10 |
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| area_km2 = 88 361 |
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| area_sq_mi = 34 116 |
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| percent_water = 0.13 |
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| population_estimate = 10,150,265 |
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| population_estimate_rank = |
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| population_estimate_year = 2007 |
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| population_census = 7,498,000{{smallsup|4}} |
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| population_census_year = 2002 |
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| population_density_km2 = 115 |
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| population_density_sq_mi = 297 |
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| population_density_rank = 94th |
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| GDP_PPP_year = 2007 |
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| GDP_PPP = $64 billion (World Bank) |
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| GDP_PPP_rank = 66th |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $7,700 |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 86th |
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| GDP_Nominal_year = 2007 |
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| GDP_Nominal = $32 billion |
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| GDP_Nominal_rank = 73rd |
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| GDP_Nominal_per_capita = $5 700 |
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| GDP_Nominal_per_capita_rank = 76th |
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| Gini = .24 |
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| Gini_year = 2007 |
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| Gini_category = <font color="#009900">low</font> |
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| sovereignty_type = ] |
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| sovereignty_note |
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| established_event1 = ] |
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| established_event2 = ] |
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| established_event3 = ] |
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| established_event4 = Independence lost {{smallsup|3}} |
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| established_event5 = {{nowrap|]}} (''Modern Statehood'') |
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| established_event6 = ] |
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| established_event7 = ] |
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| established_event8 = ] |
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| established_date1 = 7th century |
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| established_date2 = 1217 |
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| established_date3 = 1345 |
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| established_date4 = 1459 |
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| established_date5 = ], ] |
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| established_date6 = ] ] |
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| established_date7 = ] ] |
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| established_date8 = ] ] |
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| currency = ]{{smallsup|5}} |
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| currency_code = RSD |
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| country_code = RS |
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| time_zone = ] |
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| utc_offset = +1 |
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| time_zone_DST = ] |
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| utc_offset_DST = +2 |
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| cctld = ] (]){{smallsup|6}} |
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| calling_code = 381 |
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| ISO_3166-1_alpha2 = RS |
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| ISO_3166-1_alpha3 = SRB |
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| ISO_3166-1_num = 688 |
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| alt_sport_code = SRB |
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| vehicle_code = SRB |
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| footnotes = <sup>1</sup> All spoken in ]. <br><sup>2</sup> Spoken in ]. <br><sup>3</sup> To the Ottoman Empire and Kingdom of Hungary<br><sup>4</sup> excluding ] <br><sup>5</sup> The ] is used in Kosovo alongside the Dinar. <br><sup>6</sup> ] became active in September 2007. Suffix ]<br> will exist until September 2009. |
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}} |
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'''Republic of Serbia''' ({{lang-sr|Република Србија / ''Republika Srbija''}}, {{Audio|Republika Srbija.ogg|listen}}), is a ] ] in ] and ] ], covering the southern part of the ] and the central part of the ]. It is bordered by ] to the north; ] and ] to the east; ], ] and ] to the south; ] and ] to the west. The capital is ]. |
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For centuries, shaped at cultural boundaries between ] and ], a powerful medieval ] - later renamed an ] - occupied much of the ]. The ] emerged in 1817 following the ]. Later, it expanded its territory further south to include ] and the regions of ] and ]. The ] region united with Serbia on ], ] and they were joined by ] (formerly an autonomous Habsburg crownland named ]) the following day after it proclaimed its ] from ]. The current borders of the country were established following the end of ], when Serbia became a federal unit within the ]. Serbia became an independent state again in 2006, after ] left the ] which was formed after the ] in 1990s. |
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In 1999 ] was placed under interim UN administration pursuant to ]. In February 2008 the parliament of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. Serbia's government, as well as the ], have not recognised Kosovo's independence. The ] has been mixed. |
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{{see also|Controversy over Kosovo independence|}} |
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==Geography== |
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{{main|Geography of Serbia}} |
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Serbia is located in Europe, on the Balkan peninsula and in the ]. It is placed at the crossroads between ], ] and ]. The ] river (2850 km) flows through the northern third of the country; it is 588 km long and forms the border with ] and part of ], alongside the ] in the east. The ] river forms the southern border of the ] province, flows into the Danube in central ], and bypasses the hills of the ] in the west. Sixty kilometers to the northeast of Belgrade, the ] river flows into the Danube and ends its 1350 km long journey from ], and the partially navigable ] (60 km/350 km) flows into the Danube near ]. The ] river (254 km) flows into Tisa near ]. All five rivers are navigable, connecting the country with ''Northern'' and ''Western Europe'' (through the ] – ] route), to ''Eastern Europe'' (via the Tisa–, ]–, ] – and Danube – ] routes) and to ''Southern Europe'' (via the Sava river). |
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The eastern border of the country is determined by the ], which runs through the whole of ]. The ] meet the ], following the course of ], a 500 km long (partially navigable) river. ] peak is the highest point in eastern Serbia at 2156 m. In the southeast, the ] meet the ], connecting the country with ]. ]<ref>http://www.unmikonline.org/press/reports/N9917289.pdf</ref>)]] |
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The ] of Kosovo form the border with ], with one of the highest peaks in the region, ] (2656 m). ] of Serbia follow the flow of the ] (at 350 km navigable for smaller vessels only) overlooking the Dinaric peaks on the other side of the shore in ]. |
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Over one quarter of Serbia's overall landmass (27%) is covered by forest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ptica.org/engl/birds/serbia.htm |title=Finding birds in Serbia |accessdate= |date=2005 |publisher=League for the Ornithological Action of Serbia |language=English}}</ref> |
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===Climate=== |
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The Serbian ] varies between a continental climate in the north, with cold winters, and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall patterns, and a more Adriatic climate in the south with hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy inland snowfall. Differences in Bogota, proximity to the ] and large river basins, as well as the exposure to the winds account for climate differences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-92892/Serbia |title=Serbia :: Climate |accessdate= |date=2007 |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica Online |pages=p.5 of 71 |language=English}}</ref> ]]] |
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] possesses typical continental climate, with air masses from ] and ] which shape its climatic profile. South and Southwest Serbia is subject to Mediterranean influences, however the ] and other mountain ranges contribute cooling down the biggest part of warm air masses. Winters are quite harsh in ] because of the mountains which encircle that plateau.<ref>Radovanović, M and Dučić, V, 2002, , EGS XXVII General Assembly, Nice, ] to ] ], abstract #2283, '''27''':2283–, provided by the ] / ] Astrophysics Data System</ref> |
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Average annual air temperature for the period 1961–90 for the area with the altitude of up to 300 m amounts to 10.9 ]. The areas with the altitudes of 300 to 500 m have average annual temperature of around 10.0 °C, and over 1000 m of altitude around 6.0 °C.<ref name="RHMZ">{{cite web |url=http://www.hidmet.sr.gov.yu/eng/meteorologija/klimatologija_srbije.php |title=Basic Climate Characteristics for the Territory of Serbia |accessdate= |publisher=Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia |language=English}}</ref> |
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===National parks=== |
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]]] |
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Serbia has 5 ]s: |
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*] (250 km²) |
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*] (120 km²) |
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*] (220 km²) |
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*] (640 km²) |
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*] (390 km²) |
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==History== |
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{{main|History of Serbia}} |
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{{see also|List of Serbian monarchs|History of Yugoslavia|}} |
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Serbia's strategic location between two continents has subjected it to invasions by many peoples. ] is believed to have been leveled to the ground by 30 different armies in recorded history. Contemporary Serbia comprises the ] regions of ], ], parts of ], ] and ]. Under nominal ] since the 7th century (having been allowed to settle in ] by its emperor ] after their victory over the ]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rastko.org.yu/rastko-bl/istorija/corovic/istorija/1_3_l.html |title=Istorija srpskog naroda: Sloveni naseljavaju Balkan |accessdate= |author=Vladimir Corovic |publisher=Projekat Rastko: Biblioteka srpske kulture |language=Serbian}}</ref> through early history various parts of the territory of modern Serbia have been claimed or ruled by: the ] (conquered the indigenous ] and ]); the ]- and the ] (challenged by the incursions of the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ]). No less than 17 ]s were born in Serbia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brendovisrbije.com/vesti/ave-srbijo.html |title=Ave, Srbijo! |accessdate= |author=Aleksandra Krsmanović |publisher=Brendovi Srbije |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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===Medieval Serb kingdoms and the Empire=== |
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]]] |
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] formed their first unified state under the ] by 812, at times disrupted by the wars with the aforementioned states. By the beginning of the 14th century ] lived in four distinctly independent kingdoms- ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njegos.org/medieval/mihailo.htm |title=Fresco of King Mihailo |accessdate= |publisher=Serb Land of Montenegro |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serbianunity.net/culture/history/Serb_History/nemanjici.html |title=Serbian Medieval History |accessdate= |date=2006 |publisher=Serbian Unity Congress |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rastko.org.yu/rastko-bo/istorija/srednjivek/nserovic-tvrtko_l.html |title=Stefan Tvrtko I Kotromanić |accessdate= |author=Nenad Šerović |publisher=Projekat Rastko: Biblioteka srpske kulture |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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] in ], 1346]] |
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At first heavily dependent on the ] as its tributary, in time the most powerful of the Serb states -] (''Rascia'') achieved full independence, overtaking the Kingdom of ], which had previously dominated the Serbian lands between 11-12th centuries. The centre of the Serb world (Raska, Duklja, Travunia, Zahumlje, Pagania and Bosnia) moved northwards, further from the ]. Although fully converted already by 865 AD,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njegos.org/medieval/zeta.htm |title=Serb Medieval State of Zeta |accessdate= |author=Encyclopaedia Britannica |date= |publisher=Serb Land of Montenegro |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snaga.org.yu/ilustrovana_istorija_srba/tekst/engleski/01/01-06-doseljavanje-slovena.html |title=The Arrival of Slavs, the Adoption of Christianity and the Serbian State of Stefan Nemanja |accessdate= |date=1999 |publisher=Snaga |language=English}}</ref> this relocation to the north and east also meant the shift towards the ] rather than ] faith (initially predominant in the south following the ]). |
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The Serbian apogee in economy, law, military, and religion took place during the rule of the ] between 1166 and 1371; the ] was proclaimed in 1217, joined later by the ], ] and ]; finally, the ] of ] was formed in 1346. Under Dušan's rule, Serbia reached its ] peak, becoming one of the larger states in ]. The renowned ], a universal system of laws, was enforced. |
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] overlooking the ] river]] |
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As a result of internal struggle between rival noble families, and heavy losses inflicted by the ] in the epic ], the ] had dissolved into many statelets by the beginning of the 15th century. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, constant struggles between various Serbian kingdoms on one side, and the ] on the other side, took place. The ] fell in 1459 following the siege of the "temporary" capital ], followed by ] a few years later, and ] in 1482. ] was overtaken by 1499. ] was the last major Balkan city to endure Ottoman onslaughts, as it joined the Catholic ]. ], ] and European ]s heavily defeated the Turkish in ] of 1456. Several Serbian ]s ruled in parts of ] as vassals of the Hungarian kings with the title of Hungarian barons. |
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After repelling Ottoman attacks for over 70 years, ] finally fell in 1521, alongside the greater part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Conversion to ] was increased, especially in the southwest (], Kosovo and ]). |
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===Ottoman/Austrian rule=== |
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], ]]] |
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] saw the ] to the ] and the ], interrupted shortly by the revolutionary state of the ] in the 16th century. ] witnessed the rise of the ] (known as the ], later ]), which fought many wars against the ] for supremacy over Serbia. Three ] invasions and numerous rebellions (such as the ]) constantly challenged the Ottoman rule. ] endured a century long Ottoman occupation before ceded to ] in the 17th-18th centuries by the decision of the ] (''Sremski Karlovci''). As the ] have depopulated most of ] and ], the ] seeking refuge in more prosperous (and Christian) ] and ] were granted imperial rights by the Austrian crown (such as ''Statuta Wallachorum'' in 1630). ] ] formally granted the ] the right to their autonomous crownland. It speeded up the migrations of Serbs into Austria, as the Ottoman rule in the ] grew ever more brutal. |
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===Serbian revolution and independence (Principality of Serbia)=== |
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], leader of the ] in 1804]] |
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]]] |
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The quest for independence of Serbia began during the ] (1804-1815), and it lasted for several decades. During the ] led by ], Serbia was independent for almost a decade before the ] could reoccupy the country. Shortly after this, the ] began; led by ], it ended in 1815 with a compromise between the ] and the Ottoman authorities. Famous German historian ] called these uprisings "the Serbian revolution".<ref> English translation: Leopold Ranke, A History of Servia and the Servian Revolution. Translated from the German by Mrs Alexander Kerr (London: John Murray, 1847)</ref> They were the easternmost bourgeois revolutions in the 19th-century world.<ref>http://www.royalfamily.org/ustanak/USTANAK_ENG.htm</ref> Likewise, ] abolished ]- second in ] after ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbs.bg.ac.yu/view_file.php?file_id=57 |title=Bibliotekarstvo i menadžment: Moguća paralela |accessdate= |author=Gordana Stokić |date=January 2003 |format=PDF |publisher=Narodna biblioteka Srbije |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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], the ]]] |
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The Convention of Ackerman (1828), the Treaty of Adrianople (1829) and finally, The Hatisherif of 1830, recognised the ] of ] with ] as its hereditary ].<ref>L. S. Stavrianos, The Balkans since 1453 (London: Hurst and Co., 2000), p. 248-250.</ref> The struggle for liberty, modern society and a ] in Serbia was crowned by the ] on ] ] (replaced by a more conservative Constitution in 1838). In two following decades (temporarily ruled by the ]) the ] actively supported the neigbouring ] in the ]. Interior minister ] published ''The Draft'' (of the South Slavic unification), which became the stand point of Serbian foreign policy from mid- 19th century onwards. |
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Following the clashes between the Ottoman army and civilians in ] in 1862 and pressured by the ], by 1867 the last Turkish soldiers left the ]. By enacting a new constitution without consulting the Porte, ] confirmed the ''de facto independence'' of the country. In 1876, ] and Serbia declared war against the ], proclaiming their unification with ]. Formal independence of the country was internationally recognized at the ] in 1878, which formally ended the ]; this treaty, however, prohibited Serbia from uniting with ], and placed ] and ] under ] to prevent the unification from happening.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalfamily.org/ustanak/USTANAK_ENG.htm |title=The First Serbian Uprising |accessdate= |author=Čedomir Antić |date=1998 |publisher=The Royal Family of Serbia |language=English}}</ref> |
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===Kingdom of Serbia/Crownland of Vojvodina=== |
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] |
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From 1815 to 1903, Serbia was ruled by the ] (except from 1842 to 1858, when it was led by Prince ]). In 1882, Serbia, ruled by ] ], was proclaimed a ]. In 1903, the ] (the descendants of the revolutionary leader ]) assumed power. Serbia was the only country in the region that was allowed by the ] to be ruled by their own domestic dynasties. During the ] (1912-1913), the ] tripled its territory by acquiring part of ], ], and parts of Serbia proper. |
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As for Vojvodina, during the ], ] established an autonomous region known as the ]. As of 1849, the region was transformed into a new Austrian crownland known as the ]. Although abolished in 1860, Habsburg emperors claimed the title ] until its unification with the ] in 1918. |
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===World War I and the birth of Yugoslavia=== |
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] leader of the ]]] |
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] in ] at the end of WWI]] <!-- 1914 is WRONG, just see Italy and Romania --> |
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On ] ] the ] of ] at ] in ] by ] (a South Slav unionist, Austrian citizen and member of ]) led to ] declaring war on ]. In defense of its ally Serbia the ] started to mobilize its troops , which resulted in the ] declaring war on Russia (in support of ]). The retaliation by Austria-Hungary against Serbia activated a series of ]s that set off a ] of war declarations across the continent in what would become ] within a month period. |
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]- in memory of the victims of ]]] |
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The ] won several major victories against Austria-Hungary at the beginning of ], such as the '']'' and '']'' - marking the first ] victories against the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Bilteni/Engleski/b230804_e.html |title=Daily Survey |accessdate= |date=August 23, 2004 |publisher=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia |language=English}}</ref> Despite initial success eventually it was overpowered by the joint forces of the ], ] and ] in 1915. Most of its army and some people went to exile to ] and ] where it healed, regrouped and returned to ] to lead a final breakthrough through enemy lines on ] ], freeing Serbia again and defeating ] Empire and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archives.org.yu/ |title=Arhiv Srbije - osnovan 1900. godine |accessdate= |language=Serbian}}</ref> Serbia (with its major ]) was a member of the ] which won ] in November 1918. The country was militarilly classified as ''minor Entente power''.<ref></ref> |
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=====Casualties===== |
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] were 8% of the total killed ] forces in ].]] |
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Prior to the war, the Kingdom of Serbia had 4.5 million inhabitants.<ref></ref> According to the ], in 1915 alone 150,000 people are estimated to have died during the worst ] in world's history; aided by the ] and 44 foreign governments, the disease was supressed by the end of the year.<ref></ref> According to ''FirstWorldWar.com'', the number of civilian deaths is estimated at 650,000, primarily due to the ] and ], but also direct clashes with the occupiers.<ref></ref> ] ranked first among the ] powers by the percentage of military deaths; 8% of the ''total'' Entente military deaths or 58% of the ] (420,000 strong) has perished during the conflict.<ref></ref> The total number of casualties ranges anywhere between 700,000 and 900,000- over 20% of Serbia's prewar size, and over ⅓ of its male population. ''L.A.Times'' and ''N.Y.Times'' placed the figure at over one million in their respective articles.<ref></ref><ref></ref> |
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The extent of the Serbian demographic disaster can be illustrated by the statement of the Bulgarian Prime Minister ]: "Serbia ceased to exist" (''New York Times'', summer 1917).<ref></ref> In July 1918 the ] ] urged the ] of all religions to pray for ] in their respective churches. |
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<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F02E7D7143EE433A2575BC2A9619C946996D6CF&oref=slogin</ref> |
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<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9406E4D8143EE433A25754C2A9619C946996D6CF</ref> |
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{{History of Serbia}} |
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=====Kingdom of Yugoslavia ("First Yugoslavia")===== |
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{{see also|Kingdom of Yugoslavia|}} |
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*] region was the first among former ] to declare union with the ] on ] ]. |
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*]- ('']'')- joined the Kingdom on the next day. |
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**On ] ], ] declared its unification with the ]. |
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***On ] ], the ] and the ] joined the unitary ] (later ]). ] became ]. |
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===World War II and ]=== |
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=====Coup d'état and "]"===== |
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The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was in a precarious position in ]. Fearing an invasion by ], Yugoslav Regent ] signed the ] with the ] on ] ], triggering massive demonstrations in ]. On ], ] was overthrown by a military ] and replaced with the 17-year-old ]. General Dušan Simović became Peter's ] and the ] withdrew its support for the ]. |
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In response to this ] launched an ] on ]. By ], an unconditional surrender was signed in ]. After the invasion, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was dissolved and Serbia was set up as a ]-occupied ]. In ], Serbia included present-day ] and the ]. This German ] was popularly known as "]" due to its head of state, ]. While this state formally recognized ] ] as its monarch, he instead headed the ''Yugoslav government in exile'' which was generally recognized by the ]. |
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Not all of what is present-day Serbia was included as part of "Nedić's Serbia." Some of the contemporary ] was occupied by the ], the ], the ], the ], and ]. In addition to being occupied by the ('']''), from ] to ], Serbia was the scene of a '']'' between ] ] commanded by ] and ] ] commanded by ]. Against these forces were arrayed Nedić's relatively weak units of the ] and ]. |
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] side of the Sava river]] |
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"Nedić's Serbia" was the home of several ] ], including: ], ], ], and ]. These camps were typically operated by the Germans with assistance from local collaborators. |
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=====Persecution of Serbs in wartime-Croatia===== |
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Camps were not just set up in Serbia, but were located throughout what had been the ]. ], ], and ] in the neighboring ] (''Nezavisna Država Hrvatska'', or ], or ]) were subjected to large-scale persecution and killings, particularly in the infamous ]. United States Holocaust Encyclopedia<ref>http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005449</ref> and Jewish Virtual Library<ref>http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Jasenovac.html</ref> estimate that there were between {{formatnum:53000}} and {{formatnum:96000}} Serb victims in Jasenovac and between {{formatnum:330000}} and {{formatnum:390000}} killed in throughout this state. The Yad Vashem center reports that over {{formatnum:500000}} Serbs were killed in the entire NDH <ref>http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205930.pdf</ref>, with some {{formatnum:600000}} people of many nationalities and ethnicities murdered in one camp Jasenovac. <ref>http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%206358.pdf</ref> After the war, the official Yugoslav sources estimated over {{formatnum:700000}} victims, mostly Serbs.{{Clarifyme|date=March 2008}}{{Fact|date=February 2008}} |
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===Communist Yugoslavia ("Second Yugoslavia")=== |
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In ], Serbia was established as one of the federal units of the "]," the ] ('']'', or SFRJ). The SFRJ was led by ], an ethnic ], until his death in ]. Serbia's borders have been decimated in other republics's interest; so called ] was only a fraction of Serbia's 1918 size (56,124km²), with ] now beeing the largest republic in terms of territory (56,546km²). |
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], a Macedonian, became President briefly upon Tito's death and was followed by others who also held office briefly as the SFRJ slowly dissolved. In ], the ] selected ] to become the ]. Milošević was controversial in Yugoslavia because he opposed Kosovo's autonomy and that his rise to power through the ] was done through mass protests which pushed out the leadership of the autonomous provinces and also the republic of Montenegro which installed politicians allied to Milošević. Milošević also aggravated the situation in post-Tito Yugoslavia by alleging that certain politicians in Yugoslavia were anti-Serb. His pressure to change the constitution to limit Kosovo's autonomy and endorsing a one-member-one-vote system in the Yugoslav League of Communists congress which would give a numerical majority to the Serbs deteriorated relations in the League of Communists which collapsed along republican lines. With ], ], ], and ] all working to secede from the SFRJ, and no official leadership of the SFRJ from 1991 to 1992, the President of Serbia was essentially the same as being the President of Yugoslavia. |
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===Federal Republic of Yougoslavia and the state union of Serbia and Montenegro ("Third Yugoslavia") and the Kosovo War=== |
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By ], Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina had all declared independence from Yugoslavia, resulting in the collapse of the SFRJ and the outbreak of war. In response, Serbia and Montenegro formed the ] (''Savezna Republika Jugoslavija'', or SRJ). The Serbian government initially supported the ] and the ] in the ] fought from ] to ]. As a result, ] were imposed by the ], which led to political isolation and economic decline of the SRJ.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srpska-mreza.com/bookstore/voices/voices6.htm |title=6) The role of sanctions in the destruction of Yugoslavia |accessdate= |author=Richard Becker |date=1995 |publisher=Serbian Network |language=English}}</ref> |
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In ], the ] was signed in ], ]. This agreement ended the ] and the ]. For the time being, the SRJ was officially at peace. |
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Between ] and ], Serbia's official peace was broken when the situation in Kosovo worsened with continued clashes in Kosovo between the Serbian and Yugoslavian security forces on one side and the ethnic Albanian ] (KLA) on the other. What became known as the ] prompted "]." This operation included aerial bombardment of Serbia by forces of the ] (NATO). The bombings lasted for 78 days. The bombings were ended following negotiations on the border between the ] and the SRJ. The negotiations were held between NATO spokesperson ] and SRJ officials speaking on behalf of Milošević. It was agreed that Milošević would order the withdrawal of all SRJ security forces, including the military and the police, and agree to have them replaced by a body of international police. The agreement upheld Yugoslavian (later Serbian) sovereignty over Kosovo but replaced Serbian government of the province with a UN administration, the ] (]). NATO also agreed to end its demand to station NATO troops across the whole of the SRJ. This had been one of its demands at the Rambouillet negotiations prior to the bombing campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commondreams.org/views/031400-107.htm |title=Another Way For Kosovo? |accessdate= |author=Noam Chomsky |date=March 14, 2000 |publisher=Le Monde diplomatique |language=English}}</ref> |
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===Democratic transition=== |
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In ] ], opposition parties claimed that Milošević committed fraud in routine federal elections. Street protests and rallies throughout Serbia eventually forced Milošević to concede and hand over power to the recently formed ] (''Demokratska opozicija Srbije'', or DOS). The DOS was a broad coalition of anti-Milošević parties. On ], the ] led to end of the international isolation Serbia suffered during the Milošević years. Serbia's new leaders announced that Serbia would seek to join the ] (EU). In ] ], the EU opened negotiations with Serbia for a ] (]), a preliminary step towards joining the ]. |
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From ] to ], Serbia has been part of the "State Union of Serbia and Montenegro." This union was the successor to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ). |
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On ] ], Montenegro held a referendum to determine whether or not to end its union with Serbia. The next day, state-certified results showed 55.4% of voters in favor of independence. This was just above the 55% required by the referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/22/montenegro.independence/ |title= Montenegro chooses independence |accessdate= |date=May 22, 2006 |publisher=CNN International |language=English}}</ref> |
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* From 1918 to 2006 Serbia was a major component of the various ], including the ] from 1918 to 1941 (renamed the ] in 1929), the ] from 1945 to 1992, the ] from 1992 to 2003, and the State Union of ] from 2003 to 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lahana.org/blog/Second%20Balkan%20War.htm |title=Second Balkan War 1913 |accessdate= |publisher=Lahana.org |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/yugotimeline1.html |title=Timeline: The Former Yugoslavia |accessdate= |author=Borgna Brunner |coauthors=David Johnson |date=2007 |publisher=Infoplease |language=English}}</ref> |
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===Republic of Serbia=== |
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On ] ], following the referendum in ], the ] declared the "Republic of Serbia" to be the legal successor to the "State Union of Serbia and Montenegro." <ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5083690.stm |title=Montenegro gets Serb recognition |accessdate= |date=15 June 2006 |publisher=BBC News |language=English}}</ref> Serbia and Montenegro became separate nations. However, the possibility of a dual citizenship for the ] is a matter of the ongoing negotiations between the two governments. |
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==Government and politics== |
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{{main|Politics of Serbia}} |
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{{see also|Foreign relations of Serbia|Elections in Serbia|Human rights in Serbia|Constitutional status of Kosovo}} |
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]]] |
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On ] ] the ] agreed to a weaker form of cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro within a ] state called Serbia and Montenegro. The Union ceased to exist following Montenegrin and Serbian declarations of independence in June 2006. |
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After the ousting of ] on ] ], the country was governed by the ]. Tensions gradually increased within the coalition until the ] (DSS) left the government, leaving the ] (DS) in overall control. Nevertheless, in March 2004 the DSS gathered enough support to form the new ], together with ] and coalition ] – ], and the support of the ], who do not take part in the government, but in exchange for the support hold minor government and justice positions and influence policies. The ] is ], leader of the center-right ]. |
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The current ] is ], leader of the center-left ] (DS). He was elected with 53% of the vote in the second round of the ] held on ] ], following several unsuccessful elections since 2002. |
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Serbia held a two-day ] on ] and ], ], that ratified a new constitution to replace the Milošević-era constitution. |
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Serbia held Parliamentary elections on ] ]. The right-wing ] claimed victory, but no party has won an absolute majority. |
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On 8 May 2007, ] was elected Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, which sparked a great deal of speculation about Serbia's political future, particularly from the ], the ] and international media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6636199.stm |title=Political uncertainty stalks Serbia |accessdate= |author=Nick Hawton |date=8 May 2007 |publisher=BBC News |language=English}}</ref> Following last-minute negotiations on the part of the DS and DSS political parties, an agreement was reached on the make-up of the country's new government on 11 May 2007 between DS, DSS and G17 Plus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=05&dd=11&nav_category=93&nav_id=41168 |title=Tadić, Koštunica reach cabinet deal |accessdate= |date=11 May 2007 |publisher=B92 |language=English}}</ref> This led to Nikolić's resignation two days later on 13 May 2007. Nikolic is replaced by ]. |
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On 13 March, 2008 the Serbian government collapsed when "Serbian President Boris Tadic dissolved parliament Thursday and called early elections for May 11" <ref>{{cite web |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ht_7vfkgabZISraA88ZmCJu0VaQw| title=Serbia calls snap vote over EU, Kosovo dispute|date=14 March 2008|publisher=AFP|language=English}}</ref> citing the growing rift between himself and nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica over membership in the EU and Kosovo's Independence. The government's collapse came less than a month after ethnic Albanian majority Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia, which considers the territory its historic heartland. |
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===Administrative subdivisions=== |
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{{main|Subdivisions of Serbia}} |
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Serbia is divided into 24 ] plus the ]. The districts and the City of Belgrade are further divided into ]. Serbia has 1 autonomous province: ] with (7 districts, 46 municipalities). Kosovo has declared independence but is still presently under the administration of the ]; international negotiations began in 2006 to determine its final status (''See ]''); Kosovo declared its independence on ] ], which Belgrade opposes. |
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The part of Serbia that is neither in Kosovo nor in Vojvodina is called ]. Central Serbia is not an administrative division, unlike the two autonomous provinces, and it has no regional government of its own. In ] this region is often called "]" to denote "the part of the Republic of Serbia not including the provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo", as the ] puts it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/yugoslavia/yu_glos.html |title=Glossary -- Yugoslavia |accessdate= |author=Library of Congress |authorlink=Library of Congress |language=English}}</ref> This usage was also employed in ] during the Yugoslav era (in the form of "uža Srbija", literally: "narrow Serbia"). Its use in English is purely geographical, without any particular political meaning being implied. |
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==Demographics== |
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{{main|Demographics of Serbia}} |
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{{see also|Demographic history of Serbia|Demographic history of Vojvodina|Demographic history of Kosovo}} |
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] |
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*Serbia (total, excluding Kosovo): 7,596,411{{Fact|date=March 2008}} |
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**]: 5,479,686 |
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**]: 2,116,725 |
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<!-- **]: 2,126,708 according to CIA factbook--> |
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{{bar box |
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| width=300px |
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| title=Serbia <small>(excluding Kosovo)</small> in 2002 |
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| titlebar=#ddd |
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| bars= |
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{{bar percent|Serbs|brown|82.86}} |
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{{bar percent|Hungarians|orange|3.91}} |
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{{bar percent|Bosniaks|black|1.82}} |
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{{bar percent|Roma|purple|1.44}} |
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{{bar percent|Yugoslavs|blue|1.08}} |
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{{bar percent|Other|red|9.79}} |
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}} |
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Serbia is populated mostly by ]. Significant ] include ], ], ], ], ] and ], ], ], ], ], etc. The province, Vojvodina , is ethnically and religiously diverse. |
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According to the last official census<ref name="statserb">{{cite web |url=http://www.statserb.sr.gov.yu/ |title=Statistical office of the Republic of Serbia |accessdate= |language=Serbian}}</ref> data collected in 2002, ethnic composition of Serbia is: |
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*Total: 7,498,001 |
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**Serbs: 6,500,000 (82.86%) |
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**Hungarians: 293,172 (3.91%) |
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**Bosniaks: 136,464 (1.82%) |
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**Roma: 107,971 (1.44%) |
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**Yugoslavs: 80,978 (1.08%) |
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**Others (each less than 1%): 666,572 (8.89%) |
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According to the poll conducted on 1 January 2006 by the Yugoslav Survey Society Serbia had 7,395,600 inhabitants - a 1.5% decrease comparing to the 2002 Census.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yusurvey.co.yu/products/ys/showSummaryArticle.php?prodId=2580&groupId=8279&PHPSESSID=109f05cc951e8a60c6f93fe9680a221a |title=The Population of Serbia, 1991-2005 |accessdate= |date=2005 |publisher=Yugoslav Survey |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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The census was not conducted in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo, which is under administration by the United Nations. According to the ] estimates however, the overall population is estimated at 1,350,000 inhabitants, of whom 90% are Albanians, 8% Serbs and others 2%.There are also around 200,000 Serbian and other refugees,who are expelled from Kosovo. ] and IDPs in Serbia form between 7% and 7.5% of its population – about half a million refugees sought refuge in the country following the series of ] (from ] mainly, to an extent ] too and the IDPs from ], which are the most numerous at over 200,000) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rb.html |title=Serbia |accessdate= |author=The World Factbook |authorlink=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=English}}</ref> Serbia has the largest refugee population in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=10&dd=22&nav_id=44785 |title=Serbia's refugee population largest in Europe |accessdate= |accessmonthday= |author=Tanjug |authorlink=Tanjug |date=22 October 2007 |publisher=B92 |language=English}}</ref> |
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; Cities: |
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{{main|List of cities in Serbia}} |
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], the capital city]] |
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]]] |
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] and ]|{{puic|1=Image:Petrovaradinskatvrdjavamq3.jpg|log=2008 March 10}}]] |
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Major cities (over 50,000 inhabitants in urban area) — 2002 census data (2005/2006 data for Novi Sad/Belgrade<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zis.bg.gov.yu/upload/BeogradUBrojkama%202006%20S.pdf |title=Beograd u brojkama |accessdate= |date=2006 |format=PDF |publisher=City of Belgrade Institute for Informatics and Statistics |language= Serbian}}</ref>). |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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!rowspan="2"|City || colspan="2"|Population |
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!Urban || Metropolitan |
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| ] || align="right"| 1,524,709 || align="right"|1,689,667 |
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| ] || align="right"|255,071 || align="right"|333,895 |
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| ] || align="right"|236,722 || align="right"|252,131 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|147,473 || align="right"|211,580 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|99,471 || align="right"|147,758 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|79,545 || align="right"|131,509 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|78,030 || align="right"|156,252 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|77,808 || align="right"|109,867 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|77,087 || align="right"|127,162 |
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|- |
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| ] || align="right"|75,256 || align="right"|131,368 |
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| ] || align="right"|73,217 || align="right"|117,012 |
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| ] || align="right"|63,577 || align="right"|83,022 |
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| ] || align="right"|61,035 || align="right"|96,761 |
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| ] || align="right"|57,411 || align="right"|121,707 |
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| ] || align="right"|55,240 || align="right"|122,893 |
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| ] || align="right"|55,052 || align="right"|87,288 |
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| ] || align="right"|54,604 || align="right"|85,249 |
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| ] || align="right"|51,471 || align="right"|97,263 |
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|} |
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===Religion=== |
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{{main|Religion in Serbia}} |
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{{bar box |
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| title=Serbia <small>(excluding Kosovo)</small> in 2002 |
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| titlebar=#ddd |
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| left1=religion |
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| right1=percent |
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| float=right |
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| bars= |
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{{bar percent|Eastern Orthodoxy|violet|84.1}} |
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{{bar percent|Roman Catholicism|red|6.24}} |
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{{bar percent|Islam|green|4.82}} |
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{{bar percent|Protestantism|blue|1.44}} |
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}}For centuries straddling the religious boundary between ] and ], joined up later by the penetration of ], Serbia remains one of the most diverse countries on the continent. Centuries on, different regions of Serbia remain heavily cosmopolitan: ] province houses a 90% ] community, ] province is 25% ] or ], while ] and ] regions are over 90% ]. |
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]]] |
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Among the ], the ] is the westernmost. According to the 2002 Census <ref name="statserb"/>, 82% of the population of Serbia (excluding ]) or 6,2 million people declared their nationality as ], who are overwhelmingly adherents of the ]. Other ] communities in Serbia include ], ], ], ], ] etc. Together they comprise about 84% of the entire population. |
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] is mostly present in ] (mainly in its northern part), where almost 20% of the regional population (belonging to different ethnic groups such as the ], ], ], ], ], etc) belong to this ] denomination. There are an estimated 433,000 baptized ] in Serbia, roughly 6,2% of the population, mostly bounded to the northern province. |
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] accounts for about 1,5 % of the country's population. |
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] has a strong historic populous in the southern regions of Serbia - ], several municipalities in the south-east. ] are the largest ] community in Serbia at about 140,000 (2%) + (Muslims over 30 000), followed by ] (1%), ], ] etc. |
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With the exile of ] from Spain during the infamous Inquisition era thousands of both individuals and families escaping made their way through Europe to the Balkans. A goodly number settled in Serbia and became part of the general population. They were well accepted and during the ensuing generations the majority assimilated or became traditional or secular, rather than remain orthodox Jews as had been the original immigrants. Later on the wars that ravaged the region resulted in a great part of the Serbian Jewish population either being killed or escaping to Yugoslavia and Austria-Hungary. |
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==Economy== |
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{{main|Economy of Serbia}} |
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] economy estimates for 2007]] |
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With a GDP for 2007 estimated at $54.547 billion, which is $7,265 per capita ] (PPP), ($5,397 nominal), ] is considered an upper-middle income economy by the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html#Upper_middle_income |title=Upper-middle-income economies |accessdate= |publisher=The World Bank |language=English}}</ref>. Growth in 2007 is estimated at 7.5%. The GDP growth rate in 2006 was 5.8%.<ref>, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia</ref> Growth in 2005 was 6.3%<ref>, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia</ref> |
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FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in 2006 was ]5.85 billion or ]4.5 billion. FDI for 2007 reached ]4.2 Billion, while real GDP per capita figures are estimated to have reached $5 600 (October 2007).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seenews.com/news/latestnews/serbiaeyes7_0pctincreaseingdpfor2007-164617/ |title=Serbia Eyes 7.0 Pct Increase in GDP for 2007 |accessdate= |date= September 27, 2007 |publisher=SeeNews |language=English}}</ref> |
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In the late 1980s, at the beginning of the process of economic transition, its position compared to other communist countries was favorable. However, its economy was gravely impacted by the ] ] of 1992–95, as well as the sizable infrastructure and industry damage, suffered during the ] air strikes in 1999. Its problems were only augmented by losing the ex-] and ] markets. Although, seeing a robust recovery the economy still faces many problems, among which high unemployment and the slow pace of structural reforms are most prominent. |
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Serbia grows about one-third of the world's ] and is the leading frozen fruit exporter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.invest-in-serbia.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=66 |title=Rebranding Serbia: A Hobby Shortly to Become a Full-Time Job?! |accessdate= |author=Borka Tomic |date=04/13/2006 |publisher=Invest-in-Serbia |language=English}}</ref> |
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] on 100 ] banknote]] |
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After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President Milošević in October 2000, the country experienced faster economic growth (the amount of economic growth in 2006 was 6.3 percent<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebrd.com/new/pressrel/2006/152nov14.htm |title=Domestic consumption drives growth in Eastern Europe |accessdate=2006-11-16 |format=HTML|work=EBRD Transition Report 2006 }}</ref>), and has been preparing for membership in the ], its most important trading partner. Serbia suffers from high export/import trade deficit and considerable national debt. The country expects some major economic impulses and high growth rates in the next years. Serbia has been occasionally called a "Balkan tiger" because of its recent high economic growth rates. |
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Serbia has been very successful in economic reforms since the 2000 revolution, especially in the past three years in which growth has averaged 6 – 7 percent, and foreign direct investment is at record levels. |
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===Infrastructure=== |
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====Communications==== |
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{{main|Communications in Serbia}} |
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{{Expand-section|date=September 2007}} |
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89% of households in Serbia have fixed telephone lines, and 90% of the population have cell phones, accounting to 8 million users (] – 5 million, ] and ] sharing the rest). 49% of households have computers, 27% use the internet, and 42% have cable TV. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novosti.co.yu/code/navigate.php?Id=5&status=jedna&vest=103744&datum=2007-05-15 |title=U Srbiji baš zvoni |accessdate= |date=15.05.2007 |publisher=Večernje novosti |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/drugastrana.php?Sifra=0005&izbor=odel&tab=47 |title=Telekomunikacije |accessdate= |date=2007 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poslovnimagazin.biz/magazin/u-srbiji-27-odsto-gradjana-koristi-internet-33-279 |title=U Srbiji 27 odsto gradjana koristi Internet |accessdate= |date=10. Maj 2007 |publisher=Poslovni Magazin |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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====Transportation==== |
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{{main|Transportation in Serbia}} |
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], the national airline of Serbia]] |
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Serbia, in particular the valley of the ], is often described as "the crossroads between East and West", which is one of the primary reasons for its turbulent history. The Morava valley route, which avoids mountainous regions, is by far the easiest way of traveling overland from continental ] to ] and ]. Modern Serbia was the first among its neigbours to acquire railroads- in 1869 the first train arrived to ], then ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subotica.org.yu/new/yu/o_gradu/index.php |title= Geografski položaj |accessdate= |date=2006 |publisher=City of Subotica |language=Serbian}}</ref> (by 1882 route to ] and ] was completed). |
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] ], ], ] and ], as well as the E662, E761, E762, E763, E771, and E851 pass through the country. The ] from Belgrade and ] are modern highways of ] / ] standard or close to that. As of 2005, Serbia has 1,481,498 registered cars, 16,042 motorcycles, 9,626 buses, 116,440 trucks, 28,222 special transport vehicles, 126,816 tractors, and 101,465 trailers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/drugastrana.php?Sifra=0005&izbor=odel&tab=46 |title=Registrovana drumska motorna i priključna vozila |accessdate= |date=2007 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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The Danube River, ]'s connection to the ], flows through Serbia. |
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There are 2 international airports in Serbia: ] and ]. |
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The national airline carrier is ] and the railway system is operated by ]. |
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====Tourism==== |
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{{main|Tourism in Serbia}} |
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{{seealso|Agrotourism in Serbia}} |
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] imperial palace, one of 8 ]s in Serbia]] |
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Tourism in Serbia is mostly focused on the villages and mountains of the country. The most famous mountain resorts are ], ], and the ]. There are also many spas in Serbia, one the biggest of which is ]. Other spas include ] and ]. There is a significant amount of tourism in the largest cities like ], ] and ], but also in the rural parts of Serbia like the volcanic wonder of ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/europe/c/DavoljaVarosRockFormation/ |title=Davolja Varos, Rock Formation |accessdate= |date=July 7, 2007 |publisher=New7Wonders |language=English}}</ref>, ] across the country<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/6508.html |title=Pilgrimage of Saint Sava |accessdate= |publisher=Info Hub |language=English}}</ref> and the cruises along the ], ] or ]. There are several popular festivals held in Serbia, such as the ] (proclaimed the best ] by UK Festival Awards 2007 and Yourope, the European Association of the 40 largest festivals in Europe) and the ]. 2,2 million tourists visited Serbia in 2007, a 15% increase compared to 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serbia-tourism.org/srpski/vesti2/v3_vest.php?&id=080109220053 |title=Turistički promet u Republici Srbiji u periodu januar-novembar 2007. godine |accessdate= |date=2007 |publisher=National Tourism Organisation of Serbia |language=Serbian}}</ref> |
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==Culture== |
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{{main|Serbian culture}} |
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], one of the oldest surviving documents written in ]]] |
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] in ], 1230s, ] period of ]]] |
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Serbia is one of ] most culturally diverse countries. The borders between large empires ran through the territory of today's Serbia for long periods in history: between the ] and ] halves of the ]; between ], ], ] and ]; and between the ] and the ] (later ]). As a result, while the north is culturally "]", the south is rather more "]". Of course, both regions have influenced each other, and so the distinction between north and south is artificial to some extent. |
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The ]'s influence on Serbia was perhaps the greatest. Serbs are ] with their own national church—the ]. They use both the ] and ] alphabets, as a result of both Eastern and Western influences. The ], built largely in the ], are one of the most valuable and visible traces of ] association with the Byzantium and the Orthodox World, but also with the Romanic (Western) Europe that Serbia had close ties with back in Middle Ages. Most of Serbia's queens still remembered today in ] were of foreign origin, including ] (a cousin of ]), Anna Dondolo (daughter of the ] of ], ]), Catherine of Hungary, and Symonide of ]. |
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Serbia has eight cultural sites marked on the ]: ] and ] monasteries (included in 1979), ] Monastery (1986), the Medieval Serbian Monastic Complex in Kosovo, comprising: ], ], ] and ]- (2004, put on the endangered list in 2006), and ], added in 2007. Likewise, there are 2 ] memorials added on the ]'s list as a part of the ]: ], handwriting from the 12th century (added in 2005), and ]'s archive (2003). |
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===Education=== |
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{{main|Education in Serbia}} |
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], pictured in 1890]] |
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Education in Serbia is regulated by the Ministry of Education. Education starts in either pre-schools or elementary schools. Children enroll in elementary schools ({{lang-sr|''Osnovna škola'' / Основна школа}}) at age of 7 and it lasts for eight years. |
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Roots to the Serbian education system date back to 11th and 12th centuries when first Catholic colleges were founded in Vojvodina (], ]). Medieval Serbian education however was mostly conducted through the Serbian Orthodox Monasteries (UNESCO protected ], ], ]) starting from the rise of ] in 12th century, when ] overwhelmingly embraced Orthodoxy rather than Catholicism. |
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First university in Serbia was founded in revolutionary ] in 1808 as a ''Great Academy'', the precursor of the contemporary ]. The oldest college (faculty) within current borders of Serbia dates back to 1778; founded in the city of ], then ], it was known under the name ''Norma'' and is the oldest ] Teacher's college in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soinfo.org/so_istorija.php?mode=datumi&language=english |title=Sombor: History by dates |accessdate= |publisher=SOinfo.org |language=English}}</ref> |
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===Holidays=== |
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All holidays in Serbia are regulated by the Law of national and other holidays in Republic of Serbia (''Zakon o državnim i drugim praznicima u Republici Srbiji''). The following holidays are observed state-wide:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://savetnik.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=49|title=Zakon o državnim i drugim praznicima u Republici Srbiji|language=Serbian|date=2007-11-06|accessdate=2008-03-13}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! Date |
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! Name |
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! Notes |
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| ] / ] |
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| ] (''Nova Godina'') |
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| non-working holiday |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| ] ] (''Božić'') |
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| non-working holiday |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| Saint Sava's Day / Spirituality day (''Savindan'' / ''Dan Duhovnosti'') |
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| working holiday (in memory on the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church) |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| ] (''Dan državnosti'' / ''Sretenje'') |
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| non-working holiday (in memory on the First Serbian Uprising) |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| Orthodox ] (''Veliki petak'') |
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| non-working holiday (date for 2008 only) |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| Orthodox Great Saturday (''Velika subota'') |
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| non-working holiday (date for 2008 only) |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| Orthodox ] (''Vaskrs'') |
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| non-working holiday (date for 2008 only) |
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|- |
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| ] |
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| Orthodox ] (''Veliki ponedeljak'') |
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| non-working holiday (date for 2008 only) |
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| ] / ] |
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| ] (''Dan rada'') |
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| non-working holiday |
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| ] |
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| ] (''Dan pobede'') |
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| working holiday |
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| ] |
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| Saint Vitus' Day ('']'') |
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| working holiday (in memory of those fallen in the ] in ]) |
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Also, members of other religions have the right not to work on days of their holidays. |
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==See also== |
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==References== |
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<!-- ---------------------------------------------------------- |
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==External links== |
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{{sisterlinks|Serbia}} |
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{{World Heritage Sites in Serbia}} |
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